John t



(No Model.)

J. T. LENMAN.

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LETTER BOX.

Patented .May 28, 1889A John T Lenman.

UNITEDe STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. LENMAN, OF VASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,293, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed February 8, 1889. Serial No. 299,099. (No model.)

ings.

My invention relates to an improved letterbox in which there is a tilting tray that di-` vides the lower and upper portion of the box while it is in position to receive the mail-matter, and which closes the letter-opening when it is tilted to deposit the mail-matter into the lower portion of the box, the lid to the letteropening being raised and lowered by the movements of the tray.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and

then pointed out in the claims.

Figure l of the drawings is a front elevation ofthe box, partly broken away, with the tray in tilted position. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the box, taken through the line c @c of 1, looking to the right. Fig. 3 is a sectional vlew on the line y y of Fig. l, showing the tray in its horizontal position.

Referring' to the drawings, A represents the box having the usual drop-door, A', at one end. The lower portion of the box is rectangular, while its upper portion is rounded, as shown, and the front face is curved inwardly, as at a, thus rendering the upper portion smaller in transverse section than the lower portion.

In the front face of the upper portion of the box there is a longitudinal letter-opening, C, of asize to admit the largest-sized envelopes, and the opening is covered bya lid, D, hinged to the box under an overhangingletlge,a. On the under side of this lid, near its upper end, there is formed an upwardly-curved lug, el, which moves in asmall slot, s, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 2,) at one side of the letter-opening, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

E represents the tray, pivoted at e in the rounded portion of the box, and comprising a bottom, l, sides 2, and front plate, 3. The tray, as will be seen in Fig.'3, is of such length and width that when in a horizontal position it will fill the space between the four walls of the box. The front ends of the side pieces, 2, describe an arc of a circle 4 of the letter-opening C, leaving an opening,

0, through which the mail-matter may be placed in the tray. The rear ends of the side pieces preferably slope down until they are about on a lev'el with the upper surface of the rear end of the bottom of the tray, as shown.

F represents a lever pivoted at f to the outside of one of the side pieces, 2, preferably the left side, as shown. The upper end of this lever is hooked, as at 4, and engages with the curved lug d on the lid D; and in its lower end there is a curved slot, 5, through which passes a stud, G, secured in the side of the tray, the outer end of said stud passing through a curved slot, S, in the end of the box, and bearing a knob or handle, Il. Arod, 6, passed through the box, serves to support the tray when tilted forward, and another rod, 7, prevents the tray from being accidentally tilted backward.

It will be understood from the description and drawings that the letter-opening is normally closed both by the lid D, which prevents the entrance of water, and by the front face of the tray. Now when it is desired to mail a letter the handle H is simply drawn upward, lifting the tray, and thereby moving stud G upward in the slot in lever F, which will cause said lever to depress the inner end of lug d and throw up the lid D, so that by the time the opening o in the tray registers with the letter-opening the lid will be fully raised. The mail-matter can then be deposited on the tray, after which, by letting go of handle H, the tray will by gravity tilt forward, deposit the letters in the box, and

close the letter-opening. As the tray moves IOO aflords ample space for the passage ot the letters, dsc., as they are emptied from the tray.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The co1nbination,with a box the upper portion of which is rounded and has a letteropening, of a tray pivoted in said rounded portion, and mechanism for operating it, (the said tray,) which comprises a bottom piece, side pieces whose front ends describe an arc of a circle coincident wit-h the curvature of the box, and a front plate secured to the side pieces and partly closing the frontend of the tray, being of such length and width that when in a horizontal position it will fill the space between the fourwalls of the box, substantially as described, and for the purposes stated.

2. The combination, with a box having an inward curve from its front side and arounded upper portion, in which is formed the letteropening, of a tray pivoted in said rounded portion and arranged to tilt downward at its front end, and mechanism for operatin g it, (the said tray,) which comprises a bottom piece, side pieces whose front ends describe an arc of a circle coincident with the curvature of the box, and a front plate secured to the side pieces and partly closing the frontend of the tray, being of such length and width that when in a horizontal position it will fill the space between the :four walls of the box, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

53. The combination, with a box having an inward curve from its `front side and a rounded upper portion7 in which is formed the letteropening, and a hinged lid covering said opening, of a tray pivoted in said rounded portion of the box and arranged to tilt downward at its front end, and mechanism for simultaneously raising the tray and lid, the said tray, which comprises a bottom piece, side pieces whose front ends describe an are of a circle coincident with the curvature of the box, and a front plate secured to the side pieces and partly closing the front end of the tray, being of such length and width that when in a horizontal position it will iill the space 'between the four walls oi' the box, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with the box and the tray pivoted therein constructed as described, of the hinged lid which covers the letteropening, having a lug that extends into the box, alever pivotcd to the tray and engaging at its upper end with said lug, and a stud secured to the tray and passing through the slotted lower end of said lever and a slot in the box, whereby the lid is caused to be raised by the upward movement of the receiving end of the tray, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN 'l`. LENMAN.

'itnesses:

W. HENRY WALKER, G. W. l-EALLoci-I. 

